Permutation lock



Patented Feb. 17, 1925.

UNITEDv STATES ROBERT ELCOCK, 0F JOHANNESBURG, TRANSVAAL, SOUTH AFRICA.

PER-MUTATION' LOCK.

Application filed .Tune 2, 1821. Serial No. 474,539.

To ZZ fio/ioni it may concern.

Be it known that I, ROBERT ELCocri, a subject of the King of Great Britain, rei siding at Victoria Mansions, Eloff Street, Johannesburg, Transvaal, Province of the Union of South Africa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Perinut-ation Locks; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and'exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it apperta-ins to malte and use the same.

The present invention relates to permit tat-ion locks, one object of the invention being to construct a. lock which, whilst being of simple construction, provides a large number of combinations and is practically incapable of being opened by feeling for the gates of the various rings forming the combination.

For the sake of convenience the lock will be described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing as applied to cycle steering heads but it will be obvious that its application is general and is not limited to this particuluar purpose.

Fig. I is a longitudinal sectional view.

Fig. II is a transverse section on the line A A, looking in the direction of the arrow.

Fig. III is a transverse section on the line B B looking in the opposite direction to Fig. II.

Fig. IV shows an alternative form of construction of the rings.

Fig. V shows a lock fitted with a key.

Fig. VI shows details of the key plate.

1 indicates the fixed tube and 2 the rotatable tube of a steering head.

A seating 3 is secured to the tube 1 in any convenient manner, preferably by the device described in my Patent No. 1,405,987, dated Feby 7, 1922. In the drawing it is shown as an integral part of the fixed tube.

A casing 11 is secured to the seating, for example by means of screws 6 the heads of which are led off flush with the surface. Or t-he casing may be made to screw onto the seating and` locked by means of'a grub screw, which is covered by the head 1l and is only exposed when the device is in the unlocked position.

In the top of the casing is formed an annular groove 7 in which lies a flat spring 5 but this is not essential pensed with if desired.

and can be dis- Through the centre of the end of the casing passes thel bolt- 8 which also passes freely through the centres of the combination rings 9 and 10. The bolt itself is therefore free for rotational movement and carries at its outer extremity a head 11 graduated along its edge 12 so that its movement with regard to the casing 4 can readily be determined.

Rigidly secured to the bolt 8 is a ward 13, and the whole belt is forced outwards by the action of the spring 1% arranged between the outer face of the end of the casing a and the inner face of the head 11.

The ward 13 is therefore in contact with the face of the combination ring 10. This ring is free to rotate in thecasing Ll and is provided with a cylindrical extension 15 which bears against the seating 3 and prevents lateral movement. The ring 10 has a gate 16 and the face, which is in contact with the ward 13, is provided with a number of serrations 17.

Carried inside the ring 10 and tting closely thereto is another permutation ring 9 having a gate 18. The back of this ring is formed with a flange 19 which lits into a recess in the ring 10 Ibut is smaller in diameter than the recess so that an annular space 2O is left between the two rings. The flange 19 carries a` projection 21 and the Harige of ring 10 also carries a projection 22, extending radially into said annular space 20 so that the ring 9 can drive the ring 10 when the two projections come into contact.

Projecting from the face of the ring 9 is a stud 23 which supplies the means for moving the ring 9 or the rings 9 and 10 together. It will 'be seen that, when the head 11 is revolved without pressing it in against the action of the spring 14, the ward 13 is in Contact with the serrations 17 on the ring 10. This ring therefore revolves with the head 11, bolt 8 and ward 13, and sooner or later carries ring 9 with it, and it is clear that no amounts of rotational movement will bring the ward 13 any nearer to the gate 16.

The only way in which this can be done is to press in the head 11 when the ward 13 is thrown out of engagement with the serrations 17. In this position, however, it is obvious that no feeling for theigate can take place since the ward is out of engagement altogether with the combination rings` lll) 1t will further, be seen that it is lnot necessary to set the combination in orderto ShOOt the bolt, when in the .unlocked position.

The operation of withdrawing 'the bolt is performed as ollowsz# The head 11 is pressed in and "given at least two full turns in one direction, say in a clockwise direction. This ensures that the stud 23 and ward 18 and projections 21 and 22 are respectively in contact. The head is then turned, still in aclockwisedirection until a certainfigure registers with aI datum mark on the casing 4. The ring and so the gate 16 is thus placed in 'a certain predetermined position.

The head is then turned in an anti-clockwise direction, the ward 13 moving the inner ring 9 only, until a certain iigure on the head 11 registers with the datum mark. The ring 9 is then ini such a 'position tha-t the gate 1G registers with the gate 18. The head is again turned in a clockwise direction until a predetermined number registers with the datum mark.Y In this position the ward is immediately over the gates and-on releasing the pressure on the head it is :tree to `enter the gates thus allowing the bolt 8 to be withdrawn under the influence ot the spring 14.

It will be apparent trom the toregoingdescription that more than two 'permutation rings can be used, also' that the'bolt can be shot at Vany position of ,the head, since in the unlocked position the ward cannot get out ot engagement with the gates in the combination rings. f

Further the rings may be made so as to spring into each other and into the casing 3 asshownin Fig. 1V. This. form ot' construction enables the lock to be made very compact and at small cost.

In the example shown, therearethree rings (1 and c. having a substantially concave shape on fthe-ir outer periphery. Rings /L and Z) have a convex shape round their inner peripheryito engage with the concave peripheral surfaces of rings and@ whilev the concave peripheral surfaces of ring a engages a convex projection Z on the casing. V

Moreover the accuracy ot the lock canbe controlled by means fot' the width of the gates, that isto say it a very accurate "setting is desired the Vgates will'only be just wide enough to receive the ward, whereas it. no great accuracy is desired the gates may be made much wider than the ward.

The lock as described is in its simplest form; it will beV obvious that lby'increasing the number of rings it .can be made more complicated and correspondingly diflicult to tamper with.k

rilheremay. be cases where it is desired to openV such .a lock by means ot a. key. The acjronI et allock having. two..4 combination rings depends, as has already been indicated7 upontlree consecutive angular movements in opposite directions. It is therefore necessary to devise a key,which,willpermit ot these three definite movements only. Such ,a device is shown and explained by reference to Figs. V and VI of the drawings.

- A ring24 is formed on the head 11 and theV key 25 is so shaped that when it is in position it retains the head 11 sufficiently pressed in as to ensure that the ward 13 is always out-ot engagement with the serrations 17. u The first condition for unlocking is vthus ullled. The key isheld in position byany suitable means., for example by feathers 26 and 27 iitting in the corresponc ing groove in the casing 4 and tube 1 respectively. rThe end of the key is formed in aU shape 28, the width of the U being `suffciently great to permit ot' movement of the ring 24 towards the tube 1. Stops 29a,

29?,A 296,29d and 29C are provided on the.

ring 24 so that theyengage with the key and prevent rotation of the head 11 beyond a certain point. In order that vit may not be possible readily to detect the angular movements required by a comparisonot' the stops with the graduations on the head, any number of dummy stops may be provided.

j In the key is yaslot 3()v andin connection with thestops 29a,l 29h. 29, 29d and 29e are inclinedv portionsla, 4312, 31C, 31d and :31e which are staggered relatively to one another. 1 The action of the keyis as follows It is first vapplied to the lock Ipressing-Vin the head 11 and placing thegring 24 inthe U- piece 28 andinserting the `feathers 26 and 27 inthe slots on the casing and tube. The head 11 is the-n pressed in as tar as possible andl givenat least two turns in a clockwise direction in the same manner as when 1the lock used as an Iordinary combination lock, and is lett so that the 'Zero mark on the head registers with the key. j

The-.ring-.is now in the-position shown in Fig. VI. The head is now given a further turn in the clockwise direction and the stop 29a encounters the key. rllhe part 31a enters the slot 30 and further movement is prevented by the perpendicular face 323L coming in Contact with the key. The head is now turned in an anti-clockwise direction and encounters the stop 29e which is a dummy and has no action. in stop-pingfthe rotation otthehead since the part 31e does not come opposite the slot 30. VIt therefore acts as a wedge Vagainst the inner surface of the U shaped-portion of the key 25 and the head is forced further towards tube 1 thusthrowing thestop 29e clear ot thekey. The rotation of the head is continued and the stop 29b passes the key for the same reason as did 29". It also passes dummy stops 29d and 29c being linfally stopped by129'..` part Sll entering the slot 30. The head is thellturnedjin a clock,- wise direction when it passes the dummy lll) stops :29 and 29d being stopped by 291. The ward and combination rings are now so ar ranged that on removal of the key the lock opens.

IThis is the simplest form or' the invention.

I may, however, provide more than one slot 30 in the key and more than one series ot' inclined faces in order to render the discovery of theA combination more difficult. I may also make the graduations round the head unequal in size but not to such an eX- tent as to be apparent. This would have the effect of upsetting the calculations of anyone who might endeavour to find the angles through which the ward has to be moved, by comparison ot' the marks on the stops, which might appear through long use, and the graduations on the head,

The lock can therefore be used as a combination lock or it can be used in conjunction with a key, differing, however, from an ordinary key lock in that no aperture in the lock itself is necessary in which to insert the key. and in that the key remains stationary while the lock is turned. There a number of locks are in use the differences between the angles through which it is necessary to turn any one head can be made the same, but the `first angle through which the head is turned :an be made to vary with any one lock. Under these circumstances the same key and similar key plates can be used for all the locks the combinations of which however will be dilerent.

Or all the locks can be made with diil'ering angles and the positions of the stops on each key plate altered accordingly. Again one master key can be used to open all the locks.

Furthermore the lock is damp and dust-,

proof under ordinary conditions owing to the overlappingl of the head ll on the casing 4.

It may here be stated that a lock and key constructed accordingl to this invention has actually been made and is working most satisfactorily. It will be understood that the head is rotatable at all times whether the bolt is shot or not and this renders it particularly suitable for use in conjunction with valves.

I claim:

l, In a combination lock, the combination of a casingv1 a bolt, a ward on the bolt, a head secured to the bolt and rotatably and slidably mounted on the casing, a plurality of rotatable combination rings and means rende-ring the ward and one of the rings incapable of relative movement to set the combination when the bolt is in the locked position without a preliminary longitudinal movement of the bolt.

2. In a combination lock, the combination of a casing, a bolt, a ward on the bolt, a head secured to the bolt, a plurality of rotatable combination rings, serrations on the face of one of said rings and a spring whereby the ward is normally forced into contact with the serrations on the ring.

3. In a combination lock, the combination of a casing, a. bolt, a ward on the bolt, a head secured to the bolt, a plurality of combination rings adapted to lit one inside another' to provide an annular recess therebetween, a radially disposed lug on each of said rings designed to operate within the recess, serrations on the face of the. outer ring and a spring whereby the ward is normally forced into contact with the serrations on the ring.

4. In a combination lock, the combination of a casing, a bolt, a. ward on the bolt, a head secured to the bolt and rotatably and slidably mounted on the casing, a plurality of rotatable combination rings, a spring adapted to keep said ward in contact with said rings and means whereby any rotational movement of the head when the bolt is in the locked position is rendered inetfective to set the combination without a preliminary and sustained longitudinal movement oi the bolt against the action of the said spring.

5. In a combination lock, the combination of a casing, a bolt, a ward `on the bolt, a head secured to the bolt and extending around the exterior of the casing, a plurality of combination rings all of which are free to move relative to the casing, means on the inner ring whereby the ward can drive it, means whereby any ring can transmit its movement to the adjacent outer ring, serrations on the :tace o-:t the outer ring and a spring housed between the end of the casing and the inner face of the head and adapted to force the ward into contact with said serrations.

6. In a combination lock, a bolt restrained in the locking position by means of a plurality of relatively rotatable rings, one of said rings being provided with a. serrated face and the other with a depending lug, a ward on the bolt engageable with said serrations and lug, each ring having a gate, which gates are brought into alignment so as to allow the ward to pass into the gates and thus bring the bolt to the unlocking position, by means of a graduated outer head rigidly secured to the bolt and free to revolve on the casing enclosing said rings and bolt.

7. In a combination lock, a bolt restrained in the locking position by a plurality of relatively rotatable rings, a casing, one of said rings being provided with a serrated face, enclosing a ward on the bolt, a. spring adapted to keep said ward engaged with the said serrations, each ring having a. gate which gates are brought into alinement so as to allow the ward to pass into the gates and thus bring the bolt to the unlocked position by means of a graduated outer head' ligidly secured tof th'e bolt and free -to revolve on the easing'enclosingz said fringe.

S. In acoinbination -l'oelrthe combination of aeaSingya'bOlt; af Wardonbthe bolt, a sli-dable and rotatable head;=secured =to1 `the bolta'nd" exte'nding aroundthe exteriorI of' Jthe casing, a plural-ity 1'off combination rings allof Whicharerotatable relative/*to th`e='cas-- ingyeaehy ring `'having a gate Whichwgates are brought into l alinement soas to 1 'allow the Ward to-fpass-into the gates 'and' thus bring the bolt to `Vthe unlocking position by means oft-he s`;aicl-.lie`ad,l thearrangeinento the parts being 'such that in` 'the unloelzed position the rings are all held bythe Ward in the` setposition lto enable the boltito-be locked Whatever the' position olf thek head. 9; In oorbination'vvith arcoinbi-nation lock having -a fixed-easing and a rotatable l1ead, a key Imounted ontheeasing in proximity to saidfhead, saidheacbbeing providedfwith a "plurality `o-rsteps engageable lwith Vthe key Wherebythehead'can be -given a Epluiality'fof successively opposing rotational movements through definite angles," fthese angles'. "being automatically determined l by thel stops'coming` VintoA cont-'act with the -lrey and lpreventing" urther '-movement in that .n particular' angular sense.

f 10. In combination with a combination lock `having aiixedacasingland a .rotatable head, `akey adapted.l toiitfonto the casing, a ring extending around said head, a plu rality 'of stops on said ring, inclinedefaoes en 'theA stops'and a gate inpsaid key, certain of'the inclined faces being so arranged and of such al Width that they will enter the gate in thekey fand' certain of the inclined faces being' so' arranged and of such a Width that they Awill not enter the gate in the key `but forcefthe Vhead into such a position thatthe stops pass the key.

` 111'. In combination withv a. combina-tion lockwhaving a xedcasingvand a rotatable bolt movable longitudinally therethrough,

' and ar head lcarried by the bolt, a ring mounted upon the'rotatable head, a pluralityfoizstops arranged on said ring, said stops'being provided with inclined aces'o varying4 Width, a key mounted on the casing and engaging Withjthe ring, the liey continually holding theiV ring in a partially de* pressed position,V and a gate `in the key, certainiof the inclined faces' being so yarranged and of such a :Width that they Will enter the :gate inthe key.

Invtestimonyiwhereof I affix my signature.

ROBERT iELCOCK. 

